A 49-year-old South African man who threatened a child while holding a rifle was sentenced to home detention yesterday.

John George Edward Duberly appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday before Judge Kevin Phillips for sentence on charges of threatening to do grievous bodily harm, assaulting a female and assaulting a child aged between 8 and 9.

He was sentenced to nine months' home detention, 150 hours' community work and ordered to pay $6000 reparation.

Judge Phillips said on one occasion Duberly threatened a woman and pushed her up against a cupboard before hitting her around the head. The woman suffered a broken eardrum and a loss of hearing for about a week.

On another occasion Duberly threatened the woman's child while holding a rifle and at another time kicked him from behind.

The court was told Duberly had been suffering from mental health issues but had been taking medication, undertaken counselling and had made positive life steps.

Judge Phillips said he was satisfied Duberly did not have genuine remorse for his actions.

Crown lawyer Marie Grills said Duberly had left both victims with an ongoing sense of threat and fear.

Duberly's lawyer Sonia Vidal said he was extremely disappointed in his offending and was remorseful.